A Better Way

Commentary

on the letter to

the Hebrews

by Manly Luscombe

Taught to adult class

Cades Church of Christ

beginning ?????, 2014

Table of Contents

A Better WayPage - 1

Table of Contents

A Better WayPage - 1

Introduction...... 3

Outline of the book...... 5

1 Jesus, son of God, greater than all 1:1-2:18...... 6

The greatness of the Son 1:1-3...... 6

Jesus is superior to angels in his person 1:4-14...... 6

Jesus is superior to angels in his message 2:1-4...... 8

Jesus is superior to angels as a human being 2:5-18...... 9

2 The superior apostle 3:1-4:13...... 11

Jesus is superior to Moses 3:1-6...... 11

Warning to obey 3:7-4:2...... 11

Warning not to miss God’s promised rest 4:3-13...... 13

3 The greatest chief priest 4:14-7:28...... 14

Jesus is superior to Aaron 4:14-5:14...... 14

Jesus is superior in promises 6:1-20...... 16

Jesus is superior to Melchizedek 7:1-28...... 19

4 Jesus is the better mediator 8:1-10:39...... 24

A new and better agreement 8:1-13...... 24

A new way to praise God 9:1-28...... 27

A new sacrifice and way to life 10:1-39...... 31

5 The better way 11:1-13:25...... 36

The way of trust and hope 11:1-40...... 36

The right way to live 12:1-29...... 41

The way of love and doing what God wants 13:1-25...... 44

The Way of Christ is...... 48

Word List...... 49

A Better WayPage - 1

God's Final Word

Letter to the Hebrews

Introduction

  1. Who is the author of Hebrews?
  2. For several hundred years there was general agreement that Paul was the author. The first printed Bibles titled this work as the “Epistle of Paul to the Hebrews.”
  3. Why was the authorship of Paul called into question? 1) In other letters Paul identifies himself but in this letter there is no such statement. 2) Some have rejected Paul as the author because the style, the vocabulary and the sentence structure is different than his other writings.
  4. It is clear that the author is known to those who received this letter. See 6:9-10.
  5. The author is in prison. See 10:34
  6. There are several others who some have proposed to be the author, including – Luke, Barnabas, Silas, Philip.
  7. However, one issue has never been in dispute. This letter was accepted as genuine early and often was quoted by the church fathers. Clement of Rome quotes from Hebrews in 95.
  8. To whom is this letter addressed?
  9. The letter is addressed, not to a city or church, but to Hebrews (Jews) wherever they may be living.
  10. Hebrews often quotes from the Old Testament, which the Jews would be very familiar with and readily accept. It also makes many references to the worship, sacrifices and offerings of the Law of Moses.
  11. It is clear that the author intended for this to be read by Jewish Christians.
  12. Where was this letter sent?
  13. Where the original letter was sent is not clear. We know that Clement of Rome had a copy by 95.
  14. The theories of location are often tied to who is thought to have written the letter.
  15. Apollos to Alexandria
  16. Barnabas to Antioch
  17. Clement of Rome to Rome. Italy is mentioned in 13:24.
  18. Luke or Philip to Caesarea
  19. When was Hebrews written?
  20. Most agree that it was written before AD 70. The worship at the temple was in its last days. See 8:13.
  21. The entire book urges the Jewish Christians not to return to Jewish worship. All such worship ended with the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in 70.
  22. We know it was written before 95 because Clement of Rome quotes from it.
  1. Why was this book written?
  2. Hebrews was written to urge Jewish Christians to remain faithful to Christ and not return to their former religion and worship.
  3. In the 13 chapters the word “better” is used 13 times. The theme is that Christianity is “better” than Judaism. Christ is better than Moses. We have a better law, a better covenant, a better high priest, a better promise, etc.
  4. Hebrews was written during the reign of terror by Nero. Christians were under threat of persecution. Some Jewish Christians were wanting to return to Judaism because it was safer than being a Christian.
  5. The purpose of this book is to say, “Don't return to the weak, inferior, and soon to pass away religion of Judaism. Remain with the strong, superior and better religion of Jesus Christ.
  6. What type of book is this?
  7. In the Bible there are several different types of writings. History, poetry, prophecy, law, biography, personal letters and apocalyptic are all very different forms.
  8. Hebrews does not fit in any of the above categories.
  9. Hebrews is a highly technical writing to people who knew the details of the law.
  10. Today, many Christians see this book as very difficult to understand because it discusses many topics with which we are not familiar. To study Hebrews you must also spend some time in the books of Law in the Old Testament.

Outline of the book

  1. Jesus, son of God, greater than all 1:1-2:18
  2. The greatness of the Son 1:1-3
  3. Jesus is superior to angels in his person 1:4-14
  4. Jesus is superior to angels in his message 2:1-4
  5. Jesus is superior to angels as a human being 2:5-18
  6. The superior apostle 3:1-4:13
  7. Jesus is superior to Moses 3:1-6
  8. Warning to obey 3:7-4:2
  9. Warning not to miss God’s promised rest 4:3-13
  10. The greatest chief priest 4:14-7:28
  11. Jesus is superior to Aaron 4:14-5:14
  12. Jesus is superior in promises 6:1-20
  13. Jesus is superior to Melchizedek 7:1-28
  14. Jesus is the better mediator 8:1-10:39
  15. A new and better agreement 8:1-13
  16. A new way to praise God 9:1-28
  17. A new sacrifice and way to life 10:1-39
  18. The better way 11:1-13:25
  19. The way of trust and hope 11:1-40
  20. The right way to live 12:1-29
  21. The way of love and doing what God wants 13:1-25

1 Jesus, son of God, greater than all 1:1-2:18

The greatness of the Son 1:1-3

1God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

  1. The letter begins with no introduction, no identification of author, no statement of greeting to those addressed.
  2. The first sentence includes all of Bible history. All of the three dispensations are included here.
  3. God spoke in various ways in the past to the fathers. This is the Patriarchal Age that included Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
  4. God spoke by the prophets beginning with Moses and the Law and continuing through the Mosaic Age. The prophets would include Samuel, Nathan, all of the writing prophets in the Old Testament and many others mentioned in the Old Testament.
  5. God now speaks through His Son. With the beginning of the Christian Dispensation, the law of the patriarchs and the law written down by Moses have been removed and replaced with the law of Christ.
  6. We now focus on Christ.
  7. He is appointed heir of all things.
  8. He is co-creator with the Father.
  9. Christ reflects the brightness of the Father.
  10. He is the express image (picture, photo) of the person of God. He became God in the flesh. See Colossians 1:15.
  11. The world remains by the power of the word of Christ.
  12. He is the one who was finally able to purge us from our sins.
  13. He now reigns from heaven.

Jesus is superior to angels in his person 1:4-14

Jesus, Son of God 1:4-5

4having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son,Today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father,And He shall be to Me a Son"?

  1. Immediately we begin to learn the purpose of this letter. Jesus is superior to the angels.
  2. The Jews held angels in high regard because they were with God, messengers of God, and were very active in the Old Testament history of the Jews.
  3. This is the first of 13 times we will hear the word “better” in this book.
  4. Jesus can offer us a more excellent inheritance.
  5. Jesus offers us a superior name than angels.
  6. God never called an angel “Son”.
  7. Psalm 2:7 is quoted to show that Jesus is better than the angels. Angels are not ever claimed to be the Son of God. Jesus is.
  8. Then 2 Samuel 7:14 is quoted to show the Father accepts him as a Father / Son relationship.

Jesus superior to angels 1:6-9

6But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him." 7And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spiritsAnd His ministers a flame of fire." 8But to the Son He says:"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. 9You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;Therefore God, Your God, has anointed YouWith the oil of gladness more than Your companions."

  1. Jesus is the firstborn of God. See John 3:16; Colossians 1:15 & 18. When Jesus was born angels did sing, praise and worship Him.
  2. Psalm 97:7 is quoted here with some loss in the translation from Hebrew into Greek. In Hebrew it reads, “worship him all you gods.” Gods (high and exalted beings) would include all exalted angels in heaven.
  3. Angels are spirit beings. Psalm 104:4 is quoted. The angels are ministers who serve God.
  4. But Jesus is addressed in a different way. Jesus IS God. Psalm 45:6-7 is proof that Jesus is higher, better, over the angels. Angels minister that the command of God. Jesus is God.
  5. NOTE: There is much confusion about the trinity. It is a difficult issue to understand. First we need to notice that the word “God” is used of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. All of them are God. All of them are called God. Second, most of the time when we read “God” we think it is a reference to the Father. That is not always true. Even in this quote – Jesus is called God, then is anointed by God. Third, we must remember that in many passages, God is a generic term for the Godhead, the trinity, and is a reference to deity or the divine nature.

Jesus same forever 1:10-12

10And: "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 11They will perish, but You remain;And they will all grow old like a garment; 12Like a cloak You will fold them up,And they will be changed.But You are the same,And Your years will not fail."

  1. And, to add to the substantial proof already given, here is another passage to consider.
  2. Jesus was involved in the creation of world, the heavens and the earth. Psalm 102:25-27 is quoted to show the creative power of Jesus. See also these passages (Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:1-4) that discuss Christs involvement in the creation.
  3. Jesus is God. He is powerful and creative.
  4. 2 Peter 3:10-13 reminds us also that this world is temporary. It will perish, grow old, wear out, and will be burned up. But Jesus will remain.
  5. Jesus does not get old, wear out, perish, or become weak and useless. Jesus is God. God is Eternal.

Jesus on God's side 1:13-14

13But to which of the angels has He ever said: "Sit at My right hand,Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"? 14Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

  1. When did God ever invite an angel to sit at His right hand? Answer: Never.
  2. Psalm 110:1 is cited to show that Jesus is invited to be where angels are not invited.
  3. Verse 14 is often talked about.
  4. Angels are ministering spirits. Many think this is a reference to “guardian angels” that watch over and protect God's people. The question is: Who are the angels serving, God or man? Who sends them out to perform a service? God does. They are doing the will and work of God.
  5. In Daniel 9:21-23, Gabriel was sent by God to serve a special need of Daniel.
  6. Study Matthew 18:10 (the other guardian angel passage). They are not facing earth and protecting us. They do always face the Father.

Jesus is superior to angels in his message 2:1-4

1Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

  1. We must pay close attention to our conduct, our behavior, our relationship with God.
  2. We can drift away. Most who stop attending worship and stop serving Christ and His church do not do so suddenly. It is very gradual. They do not leave in tornado. They just seem to drift away with little attention to how far they they traveled.
  3. The “if” in verse 2 is used in the sense of “since”. The message of the angels is sure, steadfast, and can be relied upon.
  4. One of the messages of angels was to point out sin.
  5. Here is something to think about. What if everything we did wrong was caught and punished? What if every time we broke the speed limit, we were ticketed? What if we were caught every time we rolled a stop sign, went through a red light, made an illegal turn and all the rest? Have you ever taken something that was not yours? Have you ever gotten away with a lie? Where would we be if every sin, every violation of the law, every transgression was punished?
  6. How shall we escape? Here we are not talking about rolling stop signs or running red lights. The topic here is more serious. Eternal. Don't neglect the salvation God offers.
  7. About this salvation there are some interesting points made here.
  8. Was first spoken by the Lord.
  9. Was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.
  10. God bore witness with miracles to show it was His will.
  11. Now study Mark 16:15-20.
  12. Jesus spoke about salvation – v. 16
  13. He told them to preach this gospel to all men – v. 15
  14. It was confirmed with signs and miracles.
  15. The Lord was working with them to show His will.

Jesus is superior to angels as a human being 2:5-18

5For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6But one testified in a certain place, saying: "What is man that You are mindful of him,Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7You have made him a little lower than the angels;You have crowned him with glory and honor,And set him over the works of Your hands. 8You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. 10For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren;In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You." 13And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me." 14Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

  1. Even when Jesus came to earth and lived as a human being, He was still superior to the angels.
  2. The newly created world was not turned over to angels to care fore it and tend it. God placed man over all the creation to care for it.
  3. Psalm 8:4-6 shows that man was crowned with glory and honor. Man was given authority over all the creation.
  4. Verse 8 makes a simple argument. When God put ALL under mans feet. All means all. There nothing that was not under mans control and oversight.
  5. Man was made a little lower than the angels. Now we see Jesus as human, made lower than the angels – to suffer death, to be crowned with glory, to taste death for every man. Study Philippians 2:8-9.
  6. It was fitting (proper) for Jesus to be the captain of our salvation. Jesus is our Lord, our King, our Captain, our Savior.
  7. When we are sanctified (saved) we become one with Jesus. Jesus is not ashamed of us. We should not be ashamed of Him. (Matthew 10:32-33) Jesus calls us brethren.
  8. He will tell everyone of our relationship to Him. See Psalm 22:22.
  9. He will sing in with us in the worship of the church.
  10. 2 Samuel 22:3 and Psalm 18:2 adds to this point. There must be mutual trust.
  11. The next quote is from Isaiah 8:17-18. God blessed Christ with many obedient followers.
  12. Since we were adopted into the family of God and are human, it was fitting that Jesus become flesh and blood that he might conquer death, the power of death, and Satan, himself.
  13. It is our nature to fear and dread death. Jesus took the sting of death away. Death is not longer in charge. Jesus overcame and we can overcome.
  14. Jesus did not become an angel. He became human. He took on flesh and blood. He had a bloodline that could be traced back to Abraham.
  15. In all ways, it was proper that Jesus become like us. In that way he could become a high priest that was merciful.
  16. Jesus was the proper one to make pay the debt of sin for us. Propitiation is not a common word. Only used three times in the New Testament – here and 1 John 2:2 and 1 John 4:10. The Greek word means to satisfy the debt, to pay in full.
  17. Because Jesus suffered, He is able to understand our suffering.
  18. Tempted here means tried. He was put to the test. He can help us when we have our faith tested.

2 The superior apostle 3:1-4:13

Jesus is superior to Moses 3:1-6

1Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. 3For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.